Tragedy struck in 1987, as Philip "Snakefinger" Lithman, longtime collaborator and personal friend of The Residents, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack while he was on tour. On his honor, the group organized a private party and tribute performance named The Snakey Wake, which also marked the final public appearance of N. Senada.
While no major releases took place in 1987, it was a year of two major transitions in the group's artistic trajectory: one being the transition into the CD format (initiated with the 1986 Heaven? / Hell! discs and furthered by a reissue campaign of their key projects by distributor East Side Digital); the other being the transition into MIDI composition and digital recording, inaugurated by a commission from the PBS network to score a few episodes of the hit children's show Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
The transition into CD would particularly mark an early end for the American Composers Series (which was structured around the double-sided vinyl format), although more economic factors were also in place.
Timeline[]
January[]
- 10th: The Residents perform the final date of the 13th Anniversary Show at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, with special guests Penn & Teller.
March[]
- Ralph's Buy or Die catalog no.14 is issued, coupled with a $1 sampler EP featuring The Residents' "Jambalaya" from Stars & Hank Forever.
- The Potatoes compilation is released on Ralph with contributions from the label's roster of artists, including The Residents with "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", an outtake from the Stars & Hank sessions.
April[]
- 5th: The Residents' new 7" single "Hit the Road Jack" is released on Ralph; the B-side is an extract from their upcoming For Elsie LP.
- Some time later, a 12" extended remix single is released as well.
May[]
- Torso releases The 13th Anniversary Show: Live in Holland on CD.
- Ralph releases Video Voodoo, a VHS collection of The Residents' short films and music videos.
- Around this time The Residents begin working on God in Three Persons.
June[]
- 5th: Hardy Fox gives an interview on the radio station WHS, playing a specially compiled tape of works in progress recorded by The Residents after the 13th Anniversary tour.
July[]
- 1st: Whilst on tour in Austria, Snakefinger dies of a heart attack.
- The Residents begin experimenting with MIDI technology; around the same time they are hired to score a few episodes of the PBS show Pee-Wee's Playhouse. They also work on putting together a tribute show to the recently-departed Snakefinger.
August[]
- 24th: The Residents hold a party at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco in honor of the late Snakefinger. This party and the Residents' 20-minute performance is referred to as The Snakey Wake, and also marks the final appearance of N. Senada.
- 25th: The Residents record a studio version of The Snakey Wake.
September[]
- 19th: Pee-wee's Playhouse: "Open House" airs.
November[]
- Ralph's Buy or Die catalog no.14½ is issued, along with another $1 sampler EP featuring "Blue Rosebuds". Uncle Willie gives the first hint of a new project from The Residents.
- The Residents' For Elsie LP (intermission music from The 13th Anniversary Show) is issued by Ralph mail order.
- 4th: Negativland release Escape from Noise, allegedly with contributions from The Residents on the track "You Don't Even Live Here".
- 14th: Pee-Wee's Playhouse: "Playhouse in Outer Space" airs.
- 21st: Pee-Wee's Playhouse: "Pajama Party" airs.
Releases[]
- 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Holland (CD, Torso, CD 018)
- For Elsie (Intermission Music From The 13th Anniversary Show) (Single Sided 12'', The Cryptic Corporation)
- "Hit The Road Jack" (7'', Ralph Records, RR8721)
- Hit The Road Jack (Special Almost Dance Mix) (12'', Ralph Records, RR8722)
Re-releases[]
- The Third Reich 'N' Roll (CD, East Side Digital, rESiDe 1)
- Includes "Satisfaction" and The Residents Play The Beatles and The Beatles Play The Residents as additional material.
- Eskimo (CD, East Side Digital, rESiDe 2)
- Includes The Replacement as additional material.
- Duck Stab (CD, East Side Digital, rESiDe 3)
- Includes Goosebump as additional material.
- Fingerprince (CD, East Side Digital, rESiDe 4)
- Includes all the tracks from Babyfingers.
- First "complete" release of the album, with all the intended tracks for it included.
Audio contributions[]
- Potatoes (A Collection Of Folk Songs From Ralph Records) (LP, Ralph Records, RR 8717, Compilation)
- The Residents contributed a previously unreleased cover of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".
- Escape From Noise (LP, SST Records, SST 133)
- Studio album by Negativland. The Residents are allegedly featured on the track "You Don't Even Live Here".
- Buy Or Die #14 (7'', Ralph Records, RR 8714, Sampler)
- Includes "Jambalaya".
- Buy Or Die #14½ (7'', Ralph Records, Sampler)
- Includes "Blue Rosebuds".
- Steal This Disc (CD, Rykodisc, RCD 00056, Compilation)
- Includes "Serenade For Missy" and "Hello Skinny".
- Summer '87 (LP, Virgin Records, VG 50280, Compilation)
- Includes "Kaw-Liga".
- Series 6, Issue 4 (2xLP, Hot Tracks, SA 6-4, Compilation, Promo)
- Includes an exclusive remix of "Kaw-Liga".
- Master Mix 2 (LP, Jump, JUMP 0005, Mixed)
- Samples "Kaw-Liga" in one track.
- Ráyate (LP, Raya Records, LP-RAYA-014, Mixed)
- Samples "Kaw-Liga" in two tracks.
Filmography[]
- Video Voodoo Volume I (VHS, NTSC, Ralph Records, RV 650)
Scoring for film and video[]
- Pee-Wee's Playground
- The Residents made music for the episodes "Open House", "Playhouse in Outer Space" and "Pajama Party".